Former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has urged Ghanaian students to embrace entrepreneurship, discipline, and innovation as the path to building personal wealth and national prosperity.
Speaking at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) during a special forum organized by the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON), the student wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the outspoken businessman and politician delivered a passionate address challenging young people to take charge of their future.
“I want you to walk up to me in a year or two and say: ‘Honourable, I was there. I listened. I applied what you said. And now, I’ve built something,’” he declared to resounding applause.
Drawing on his own journey from humble beginnings to becoming a successful entrepreneur employing over 7,400 people, Agyapong shared life lessons grounded in resilience, practical learning, and risk-taking.
He emphasized that success in today’s world goes beyond formal education. “Learning is not just about books,” he said. “It’s about understanding life, and being willing to learn from every situation around you.”
While reaffirming his respect for formal education—highlighting his personal investment in building schools and providing over 4,000 scholarships—he stressed the importance of connecting classroom knowledge with real-life application.
Agyapong warned that Ghana’s youth face growing challenges in employment, citing a mismatch between population growth and job creation. He pointed to entrepreneurship as the most sustainable solution, calling on students to leverage technology, creativity, and innovation.
“Some of you are already running businesses from your hostels—selling clothes, food, and beauty products on TikTok and Instagram. That’s entrepreneurship in action,” he said.
Referencing his early experience in the United States as a taxi driver, he recounted how disciplined saving allowed him to grow from one taxi to owning eight within eight months. “I saved $100 a day, and by the end of each month, I bought a new car. That’s how I made it,” he said.
He challenged the growing dependency on Treasury Bills, calling them a “lazy approach” to wealth creation. “Safety doesn’t build wealth. Risk and strategy do. If you want to be like Kennedy Agyapong, don’t rely on T-bills—take calculated risks,” he told the crowd.
The former MP also introduced the GOSPA framework—Goals, Objectives, Strategies, Plans, and Activities—as a blueprint for personal and business success. He supplemented this with seven virtues he believes every young leader must develop: vision, courage, integrity, humility, foresight, cooperation, and focus.
Agyapong ended his speech with a call for self-discipline and savings. “If you can’t save, you’re not ready to succeed,” he said. “Delay gratification. Know what you’re building, and walk past temptation.”
The event, attended by Members of Parliament, party executives, faculty, and students, sparked enthusiastic responses from the audience, with many pledging to pursue entrepreneurship more seriously.
